Observation Date
12/16/2022
Observer Name
Tim Matthews
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Laurel Highway Funnel North Woods
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
I'd like to call today's weather the Triple C. Clear, Clam, and Cold. The Gold Basin study plot was reporting -8.0F leaving the TH at 0830, and never really warmed up out of the single digits. No wind, and clear skies. So much low density snow to blow around and never observed any blowing snow. 5 star powder skiing was had today!
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2'
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Beautiful low density powder sitting right side up. By 1230 the south aspects were getting damp and made really nice snowballs. I'd suspect those aspects to have a shallow crust on them tomorrow. I'd also treat them as suspect where the sun helped to slab up the new storm snow. Especially in areas that have a slick crust under the new snow.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
In all my travels today I only experienced collapsing in one meadow just outside of the TH parking lot. It's no secret that the snowpack structure is poor. Outside of a few dry loose avalanches I did not see any signs of recent slab avalanches. I did report an avalanche on Noriega's Face, but it likely happened 3 days ago. I like to keep my recent avalanches within the last 48 hours.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
The PWL's aren't going away in the snowpack for the foreseeable future. I think we will see an uptick of avalanches failing on this layer as soon as the wind starts blowing again. There is a lot of snow available for transport right now waiting to load the north facing starting zones.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Until the winds pick back up again this problem with trend down or go away.
Dry loose above and below the cliffs on Mellenthin. Exactly where you don't want to get caught.
The snow getting damp on a SW aspect by 1230. Likely will be crusted tomorrow. This pulled out really easily with a ski pole basket pulling down on the snow. There was a slick crust under the new snow in this picture.
5 Star powder with Obi getting in on the action.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates
